Family-Based Therapy for Latine Adolescents: The Ciffta Model

Filling a key need for clinicians working with at-risk Latine adolescents, this book bridges the gap between evidence-based and culturally informed adolescent and family therapy. The authors explore the unique challenges facing Latine youth and families--including immigration- and acculturation-related stressors and minoritization--as well as culturally based sources of resilience. They present Culturally Informed and Flexible Family-Based Treatment for Adolescents (CIFFTA), which combines manualized family and individual interventions. Therapists can select from an extensive list of psychoeducational modules to tailor the intervention to unique client needs. Vivid case examples illustrate high-quality, time- and cost-effective treatment strategies for a range of mental health and substance use problems. The book also provides information about comprehensive CIFFTA training.

Daniel A. Santisteban, PhD, is Cofounder and Director of Research at Training and Implementation Associates and Professor Emeritus at the University of Miami. A researcher in the area of culturally informed adolescent and family therapy since the 1990s, he is the primary developer of Culturally Informed and Flexible Family-Based Treatment for Adolescents (CIFFTA). Dr. Santisteban’s current work focuses on creating and testing an evidence-based platform for training, coaching, and implementation that uses clinical simulations. Dr. Santisteban has authored over 50 articles and chapters and has received career research awards from the American Family Therapy Association, the National Hispanic Science Network, and Division 45 of the American Psychological Association (Society for the Psychological Study of Culture, Ethnicity, and Race).

Maite P. Mena, PsyD, is Research Assistant Professor in the School of Education and Human Development at the University of Miami. She is the codeveloper of Culturally Informed and Flexible Family-Based Treatment for Adolescents (CIFFTA). Dr. Mena’s research since the early 2000s has focused on the unique stressors faced by minority populations, such as immigration-related separations, and how CIFFTA can positively influence outcomes. Her current work focuses on evaluating CIFFTA’s effectiveness in real-world settings and enhancing CIFFTA’s trauma focus and interventions. Dr. Mena is actively involved in providing CIFFTA implementation support and training and coaching clinicians across the country. She has published in peer-reviewed journals and has presented on CIFFTA at national and local conferences.

David Santisteban, PhD, is Cofounder of Training and Implementation Associates, which supports mental health professionals, treatment agencies, and funding agencies in meeting complex implementation challenges. His early work in academic clinical research focused on the development of culturally appropriate prevention and treatment strategies for Hispanic adolescents and their families. Dr. Santisteban served as Co-Principal Investigator and/or Project Director on several clinical research grants, published and presented on the mental health needs of Hispanic families, and consulted to a number of national programs and initiatives. Since transitioning to the private sector, he has focused on the utilization of technology and simulation to develop innovative assessment and training strategies.